ROAD TO RECOVERY: Brave Kyle who took some of his first steps at Hyde FC as their mascot after a life-changing operation.

Four-year-old Kyle Weaver was walking tall as Hyde FC’s mascot when he took some of his first steps following a life-changing operation.

Six months ago the brave youngster couldn’t walk at all, but to the delight of players and fans he even kicked a football at the team’s ground.

Kyle and his family were invited to the football club to thank the team’s fans for their support in helping to raise vital funds for the youngster to undergo specialist surgery in America to put him well and truly back on his feet.

And everyone at Ewen Fields could see for themselves how that fundraising had paid off.

Kyle is actually a relative of Hyde FC match photographer Paul Prole.

“It was a special day as Kyle was introduced to the players in the dressing room, and walked across it much to the delight of his family and the players,” said Paul.

“I must say that the players and the staff at Hyde were magnificent with him and his family.

“And they all enjoyed the day and Kyle got a nice reception from both sets of fans.”

Kyle was just ten-months-old when he was first diagnosed with a rare muscle condition called spastic diplegia cerebral palsy.

Doctors told his parents it was ‘extremely unlikely’ he would ever walk unaided.

As he grew Kyle suffered painful muscle spasms in his legs and couldn’t stand or walk.

His only chance was a treatment called selective dorsal rhizotomy which is being pioneered 4,000 miles away in St Louis Hospital, Missouri.

Kyle’s family had been invited to do a bucket collection on New Year’s day last season when Hyde played Stockport County, and raised nearly £400 towards the £60,000 which was needed to pay for the operation.

But the op was made possible thanks to an amazing £22,500 gift from complete strangers.

You can read the full story alongside more pictures in this weeks Reporter (January 9 edition).